Welcome to Bollywood: Luv Sinha

I wrote him off. He knows this. But this didn’t stop the incredibly smart Luv Sinha from agreeing to an interview with BollySpice. And after he blatantly told me he read my review, he was then more than accommodating when I asked him to be the first in a series of interviews that would highlight newcomers in Bollywood. While his career took off on the wrong foot with Sadiyaan, that has not dampened his spirits and Sinha junior is determined to prove that he was made for cinema. While stardom doesn’t happen overnight, Luv does believe he has a lot to show especially since acting is clearly in genes. Luv is son to Shatrughan Sinha, one of the most powerful actors in Hindi cinema and a popular politician. But Luv has no intentions of riding high on his family name and intends to make a prominent name for him sans his Father’s backing but filled with his blessings. What struck me most about Luv was his honesty and passion for cinema. Read on as he talks films, acting and being son to one of the best in Hindi cinema only on BollySpice.

Was it always going to be acting for you?

Pretty much from a young age and because of the environment that I grew up in, I knew it would be acting. And also you understand the pressures that are associated with this career. People just think it’s really easy especially if you’re from a film family. But that’s obviously because they are not from the industry or they don’t understand what it’s actually like. So I guess in some ways it was also a challenge; not just the challenge of proving myself to other but proving it to myself. That is what drove me towards this line.

How did your parents react when you told them you wanted to join films? Your Father is one the most popular stars to exist in Hindi cinema.

Dad said, if you do this, you have to understand that you are going to be out there in front of everyone else. And then it’s a freefall. Everyone is going to judge you and everyone comment on you. So you have to be prepared for that. And also, you have to keep on trying to do your best. Sometimes that may not happen but it’s not always going to be your fault. Sometimes it is going to be because of other factors also.

How do you feel when inevitable companions are made to your father?

I think it’s a bit too early to be comparing me to him because if you compare me from my first film itself, then that doesn’t give me a very good message. You’re comparing who has forty years of experience against someone who did his first film. So how does that work? It’s like comparing someone with a PhD to kindergarten student.

How did Sadiyaan happen?

Well, I was looking for work and I had met a few people. I had gone to meet a few directors who had shown interest me. Mr. [Raj] Kanwar came along and the obviously reason I signed on this film was because of the actors that I was getting an opportunity to work with. That was the main reason. Some people may not find that a credible reason. And also I liked the script when I heard it. There is a difference between the screenplay and the script. When I heard the script originally, it seemed interesting. I felt that everyone could relate to it. But then again like I said, there is a difference between the screenplay and the script.

What advice did your father give you when you decided you would take on Sadiyaan?

Again at that point, he said to try doing whatever you can. I take this career very seriously. I don’t take it as a joke. And he knew that already. Basically he said to go out there and do whatever you can do because in this career no one is going to be there to hold your hand anyway.

What background do you have in films? Courses? Workshops?

I’ve actually trained quite a bit. But as far as Sadiyaan is concerned, I think Mr. Kanwar’s and my working style is slightly different so I guess I had to adapt to his working style a lot. And that showed on screen.

What kind of films would you like to see yourself a part of?

Obviously I would not want to do a period film anytime soon. Something more contemporary and more modern. Even if it’s a love story or a romantic story. But the main thing is that the director must understand you. They should know your strengths and how to utilize them. It can’t just be like you design a shoe box and you try putting a size 15 shoe into shoe box that is designed for a size 9 shoe. It doesn’t work.

I think that would work better for you especially since your personality is a lot younger.

I think I would fit into something intense a lot better but that that is how I feel.

Was it as easy as I want to be an actor and a line of directors were waiting to sign you on?

I don’t think that works for any star son or any star for that matter. Some people do show interest but you have to understand that people also show interest because they might be thinking that because they know how to capitalize on you. In fact, I feel there should be a balance. You should be able to benefit from the association with the other person as well as them benefiting from you.

Most newcomers talk of struggles. As a veteran and prominent actors’ son, do you feel you had to struggle? If so, what struggles were those?

My so-called struggle – in the sense that anyway nowadays most actors, whether they are from India or anywhere, they usually come from a background where they have some form of security. Not too many of them have to deal with the financial struggle; I’m talking about the current generation. I think in that sense, it terms of having a certain amount of security, because of what my Father has achieved, that will not be my struggles. My struggle has just started now. My struggle is to move ahead of Sadiyaan; is to go out there and break the perception that was created due to the film. People don’t realize when they judge an actor, there is a lot of stuff happening behind the scenes that they will never be aware of. So my struggle has just begun. I have to prove to everyone that I do have it in me and I am capable.

What kind of offers are you receiving now?

I have been meeting people but the thing is I don’t want to rush into anything. You have to be very careful because when people pitch a project, it sounds amazing. But when they go through with it, it turns out to be very different. So it’s very important to be careful and I’d rather take my time and pick something that is appropriate rather than jump into some project.